Audio By Carbonatix
Renowned lawyer and past president of the Ghana Bar Association, Mr Sam Okudzeto has called for the Indemnity Clause to be expunged from the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
“So far as I am concerned, there is no constitution in the world where there is a permanent clause in a constitution to indemnify anybody. So far as I'm concerned that clause should be done away with”.
According to the renowned lawyer, there is the need for a clean Constitution which does not protect anyone.
Section 34 of the transitional provisions in the 1992 Constitution indemnifies all coup makers and their functionaries against any liability for acts and omissions committed during their administration.
In an interview with Asempa FM news correspondent Dominic Kissi Yeboah at the opening of a five-day conference of the Constitutional Review Commission in Accra, Mr. Okudzeto noted that it is a complete misconception for anyone to say that if the Indemnity Clause is expunged from the Constitution, it will mean the Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council, former President Jerry Rawlings, whose administration ushered in the present 4th Republican Constitution can be sent to court with the possible outcome being a firing squad.
He said Ghanaians and victims of the revolution have forgiven ex-President Rawlings when they appeared before the National Reconciliation Commission, adding that “President Rawlings sent me to prison twice; I have forgiven him. When I see him I go there, I greet him and embrace him. Let us forget about this petty personal issue; the constitution is bigger than any individual” and that "the constitution is not him, he did not make it”.
Lawyer Okudzeto explained that attempts by some people to personalise the constitution for an individual will not be the right approach. “Irrespective of the political opinions that we hold, I think we should all forget about this”.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Bature, Managing Editor of the Bilingual Free Press noted that the excesses of the PNDC administration led by ex-President Rawlings notwithstanding, he returned the country to constitutional rule.
The five-day conference constitutes the final leg of the exercise by the Constitution Review Commission to solicit public views on possible amendments to the supreme law of the land.
Story by Adwoa Gyasiwaa/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Two feared swept away after River Agyei overflows Kasoa–Domeabra road
1 second -
Tony Elumelu appointed chairman of Seplat Energy
13 minutes -
Education Minister raises alarm over indiscipline in SHSs, announces national reform conference
15 minutes -
Lom Ahlijah advocates tech-based monitoring in schools after assault case
19 minutes -
UTAG threatens nationwide strike over delay in book and research allowance rate
27 minutes -
Boundary Commission urges border residents to protect boundary pillars and support national security
30 minutes -
Ghana to grow at 5.0% GDP in 2026, but faces huge investment financing gap – AfDB
31 minutes -
Deputy AG, 14 CSOs appear at Supreme Court for hearing on challenge to OSP’s prosecutorial powers
36 minutes -
Minority MPs meet Ghana High Commissioner to Canada to discuss diaspora welfare and bilateral relations
45 minutes -
GNAT threatens WASSCE boycott over detained Nyinahin SHS teacher
52 minutes -
Free SHS: Education Minister hails end of school food shortages
57 minutes -
NLA Director-General calls for a concerted effort in fight against illegal gambling
58 minutes -
74% of returned Ghanaians had overstayed visas – South Africa’s Int’l Relations Minister
1 hour -
Ghana’s National Vaccine Institute joins WHO-backed Global Clinical Trials Forum
1 hour -
World Bank set to approve US$300m for expansion of Ghana’s school infrastructure
1 hour